Math Talks - Strategies for Upper Elementary

Hello! I'm Leslie Gillis, a teacher and parent, living in the Pacific Northwest of the USA with my husband, son, and our dog Ziggy. I have been working with children of all ages in a variety of settings going as far back as when I was earning my BA in Peace and Conflict Studies and Education at UC Berkeley.  Since then, over the past twenty years I have taught full time and part time in both public and private schools, as well as in the non-profit sector, as a private tutor, and as a volunteer at my son's school.  I am certified in both California and Oregon to teach multiple subjects to grades K-12, and I am excited to be teaching on Outschool and sharing my skills with students and families!  

Do you feel that your student has learning gaps due to interrupted learning during the pandemic? Does your learner need some review/catch up, or maybe even an extra challenge?  I teach small group one time and ongoing classes that engage students in academic practice, while having fun and socializing a bit.  Many of my classes are open ended, conversational, and interactive, so I am able to get to know a little bit about my learners' strengths and areas for practice relatively quickly.  I can then tailor my instruction to meet the needs of each learner. I also offer individual and small group tutoring for families who would like a more individualized program. 

Work with an experienced educator who...
  - understands how childrens' math knowledge develops over time.
  - has knowledge of common core standards, curriculum, and best practices.
  - will individualize instruction to help each learner grow. 

Students will...
  - gain conceptual understanding and confidence in their ability to use logic and reasoning to solve problems.
  - have opportunities to share their knowledge in a variety of ways, and develop their written and verbal communication skills.
  - practice concepts with concrete, hands on and visual modeling.
  - make connections to standard representations and algorithms that they are expected to know and understand the why behind many of the procedures they may have been exposed to.
  - work towards proficiency with the common core content standards appropriate for their age and grade, as well as with the Standards for Mathematical Practice which go across all grades.

I strive to...
  - connect with each learner.
  - meet learners where they are and build on the skills and strategies that they are already using.
  - model and encourage a growth mindset. 
  - create a safe environment in which students feel comfortable taking the risks necessary for learning.
  - use concrete and visual modeling to bring concepts alive.
  - place a strong emphasis on conceptual understanding and building number sense, fluency, and flexibility.
  - respect different ways of thinking.
  - encourage learners to use multiple strategies.

I hope you will check out my class offerings!  Please feel free to reach out if you have questions about a class, or if you don't see exactly what you are looking for.